The Ragozin Complex is a flexible and versatile chess opening system that, despite its popularity, rarely has been a subject of serious study in chess literature. A hybrid of the Queen's Gambit and the Nimzo-Indian Defence, the Ragozin featured in a famous book by Soviet theoretician Lipnitsky in the 1950s. Bobby Fischer decided to learn Russian to be able to read that work and immediately afterwards started playing the Ragozin.

This is a new series which provides an ideal platform to study chess openings. By continually challenging the reader to answer probing questions throughout the book, the Move by Move format greatly encourages the learning and practicing of vital skills just as much as the traditional assimilation of opening knowledge. Carefully selected questions and answers are designed to keep you actively involved and allow you to monitor your progress as you learn.

This new series provides an ideal platform to study chess openings. By continually challenging the reader to answer probing questions throughout the book, the Move by Move format greatly encourages the learning and practising of vital skills just as much as the traditional assimilation of opening knowledge.

Chess Opening Essentials is an accessible primer and a reference book at the same time. It gives a flavor of how every opening works and explains the similarities with other openings as well as the differences. In addition, it also points at the various middlegame plans that apply after the opening has ended.

In many 1.d4 openings, Black has trouble getting his bishop on c8 into play. Former Russian Chess Champion Alexey Bezgodov presents a radical solution to this nagging problem; liberate your bishop right away and put it on f5 on the second move! Play 2...Bf5! against either 2.c4 or 2.Nf3 will surprise your opponent and is also a great way to support your development, because the bishop takes control of the important square e4.

Henry Bird's 1.f4 has become the choice of many players who wish to avoid the voluminous theory surrounding 1.e4, 1.d4 and even 1.c4. If Black plays passively then he is likely to find himself in an inferior line, especially if he allows a reversed Dutch defense. But there is an exciting alternative to the main lines - the From Gambit! With l...e5 Black makes it clear that he is willing to fight. The lines which arise often involve forced piece sacrifices for both sides, and knowledge of the middlegame ideas is critical.

Catalan, revised with recent games and new chess opening analysis by computer programs including Houdini. Since this book first came out the Catalan has been played with great success by World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov and other grandmasters. This has necessitated this great expansion with new games and the latest chess computer

Book Description
At the time of the first edition, this opening was just becoming popular in Grandmaster chess. It soon became a hot item and for this edition we had over 20,000 games in our database. Champions of the defense include Grandmasters Agdestein, Dolmatov, Gleizerov (more than 100 games!), Glek, Karlsson, Moskalenko, Nikolic, Ulibin, and Vaisser. The theory is now pretty well established.
I recommend that you start by studying the Overview below and looking at the games cited in the next paragraphs. I have concentrated on the lines most frequently seen in high level games. The opening is so absurdly transpositional that there is no way to organize it exhaustively. The most important thing is to note where the pieces usually land.
About the Author(s)
Eric Schiller (born March 20, 1955 in New York City) is an American chess player, trainer, arbiter and one of the most prolific authors of books on chess in the 20th century. In 1974, Schiller was the Illinois Junior Champion. Schiller played for the University of Chicago team several times at the Pan American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship. He was an organizer of the Hawaii International chess festivals 1994-98 including 1998 US Open California Champion 1995. Later that year, he appeared as a chess adviser for the music group Phish on some of the stops for their "Chess Tour" where they played an ongoing game of two chess moves per tour stop and some "band vs. audience" partial games as part of their stage performance. Schiller was an arbiter at several notable games and championships including the FIDE World Chess Championship 2000. While Vladimir Kramnik and Garry Kasparov opted not to participate in the event, they had both endorsed Schiller for this sensitive role during the planning stages. As of April 2009, Schiller has a FIDE rating of 2166. He is also an International Arbiter and International Trainer. Schiller's expertise and publications in the Flohr-Zaitsev Variation made him a sought-after expert when Gary Kasparov used that opening at the second game at the World Chess Championship 1990.

Tarrasch French Guimard Variation with 3...Nc6 Updated in 2011 with New Games and Analysis

Catalog Code: B0100IS

The popularity of the French Defense has surged to the point where it rivals the Sicilian and the Spanish in the chess international tournament arenas. Always known for its solid character, the French offers Black excellent winning chances in the main lines of the Winawer and in many side variations.

This is a new series which provides an ideal platform to study chess openings. By continually challenging the reader to answer probing questions throughout the book, the Move by Move format greatly encourages the learning and practicing of vital skills just as much as the traditional assimilation of opening knowledge.

In addition to the standard lines, this book contains a number of interesting suggestions that have never been implemented. This book has been updated with a supplement containing the latest games and grandmaster analysis in 2012.

In this, the first ever monograph devoted to the line, noted author Eric Schiller explains all of the critical ideas in the opening and endgame, and provides many examples of each from tournament play.

The Zaitsev variation of the Closed Spanish is a favorite line of many of the world's best chess players, including many World Champions. Until now, however, there has not been a compilation of the theory of the line, together with the relevant lines of the Breyer and Smyslov Variations into which play often transposes. This book is intended for experienced chess players rated 1700 and above. It contains. heavy-duty theory with many ideas simply credited to the appropriate sources and a good deal of unannotated games. The Zaitsev variation leads to rich positional and tactical play which requires deep understanding of chess.

The Sicilian Dragon The Classic How-to-Win Guide on One of the Most Exciting and Powerful Chess Openings Played Today

Catalog Code: B0052CZ

Play the Exciting Dragon! Inside this book are the secrets of one of the most exciting and powerful openings in all of chess - the Sicilian Dragon! Used by amateurs and champons alike, the dragon features brilliant combinations, no-holds-barred assasults, wild sacrifices, and uncompromising positions. This new edition features bigger diagrams, the latest moves and developements, and 30 new game examples.

The f4 Sicilian has become popular and feared because it avoids the frightening amount of knowledge required to play Open Sicilians. It is often not treated with the respect it deserves. The strategic aims are quite simple to understand: CHECKMATE. The first edition was written when the Grand Prix Attack was just becoming noticed by strong chess players. Now there are over 20,000 examples in the databases. Nevertheless, the opening remains based more on the ideas explained by authors Hodgson and Day than on “theory”.

The FrankensteinDracula Variation (1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bc4 Nxe4!?) of the Vienna Game is a monstrous thicket of complications which still have not been fully explored. The opening leads to fascinating positions which will bring enjoyment both in tournament and correspondence play. Although some theorists have treated the variation as dead and buried, experiments have managed to bring the monster variation back to life for Black, and it can now be considered fully playable.

Just like his previous book, Mastering Opening Strategy is a product of Hellsten's many years' work as a full-time chess teacher and is specifically designed as part of a structured training programme to improve strategic thinking.

The Nimzo-Larsen Attack is an ideal opening choice for players keen to avoid mainline theory but still wanting to set their opponents problems from the outset. In the Nimzo-Larsen, White begins 1 b3 and then develops in hypermodern fashion – planning to undermine any central structures Black dares to erect. A key attraction of the Nimzo-Larsen is that White can steer the game into either sharp play or elaborate strategic battles. In this book, International Master Cyrus Lakdawala invites you to join him in examining the many different variations of the Nimzo-Larsen. Lakdawala studies the typical plans and tactics for both sides, offers repertoire options for White, provides answers to all the key questions and tells you everything you need to know about playing the Nimzo-Larsen Attack.

This series provides an ideal platform to study chess openings. By continually challenging the reader to answer probing questions throughout the book, the Move by Move format greatly encourages the learning and practising of vital skills just as much as the traditional assimilation of opening knowledge. Carefully selected questions and answers are designed to keep you actively involved and allow you to monitor your progress as you learn.

In this book, Cyrus Lakdawala examines the Caro-Kann, which enjoys a richly deserved reputation as one of Black's most reliable defences. It provides an ideal blend of soundness and dynamism, which allows Black to create counterplay from a solid platform.

The Modern Defence is an ambitious, counter-attacking choice for Black which can be played against all mainline openings. In typical hypermodern style, Black allows White to occupy the centre and then undermines this centre by attacking it with pawns and pieces. In this book, Cyrus Lakdawala examines the key variations of the Modern Defence. He shares his experience and knowledge, presents a repertoire for Black and provides answers to all the key questions.

Chess players are offered an ambitious repertoire for White with 1.d4 in two volumes, with this book covering all lines except 1...d5. The repertoire is based on classical lines and inspired by Botvinnik’s approach.

This series provides an ideal platform to study chess openings. By continually challenging the reader to answer probing questions throughout the book, the Move by Move format greatly encourages the learning and practising of vital skills just as much as the traditional assimilation of opening knowledge. Carefully selected questions and answers are designed to keep you actively involved and allow you to monitor your progress as you learn. This is an excellent way to study any chess opening and at the same time improve your general chess skills and knowledge.

In this book, John Emms examines his favorite Sicilian variation, which is one of Black's most reliable answers to 1 e4. He shares his knowledge from over 15 years studying and playing the Sicilian Taimanov at grandmaster level, examines the opening from both sides of the board and offers answers to the all the key questions.

SHOPWORN - How To Beat The Sicilian Defence An Anti-Sicilian Repertoire for White

Catalog Code: SWB0327EM

The Sicilian Defence is by far the most popular chess opening. If you play 1 e4 as White, on average you are likely to meet the Sicilian in virtually every other game! You need to be prepared to face the Sicilian at all times, and a ready-to-use repertoire against it is an indispensable weapon. In this book, Gawain Jones confronts the challenge of meeting the Sicilian head on. He has constructed a comprehensive Anti-Sicilian repertoire for White, which is based on lines that are successfully employed at grandmaster level.

In this book, International Master Cyrus Lakdawala examines the Trompowsky Attack. Originally a favourite among club players, in recent years the Trompowsky has been transformed into a powerful weapon even at grandmaster level. It particularly appeals to bold, ambitious players and leads to positions which are rich in possibilities for both sides. Using illustrative games and drawing on his own experience with the opening, Lakdawala provides a repertoire for White, covers the main positional and tactical ideas for both sides, provides answers to all the key questions and tells you everything you need to know about successfully playing the Trompowsky Attack.

The Nimzo-Indian Defence continues to be one of the most important chess openings, both at club level and with top players. In recent years it has undergone a number of significant changes and it's high time for a thorough look at the current state of affairs. Top grandmaster Ivan Sokolov is the perfect authority to do so.

Balance of Time, Material and Quality of Position - Chess Lecture - Volume 62

Catalog Code: DVD0062CL

GM Jesse Kraai explains Kasparov’s fundamental theorem of chess with which any position can be evaluated. Jesse gives us examples of near perfect games, and analysis tools to evaluate your own game.ECO: C22, C41, A15

Founded in 2005 ChessLecture.com is one of the largest chess instructional libraries in the world. Our lectures are created and presented by Grand Masters, International Masters and National Masters and contain excellent instruction by experienced players for the chess enthusiast.

Founded in 2005 ChessLecture.com is one of the largest chess instructional libraries in the world. Our lectures are created and presented by Grand Masters, International Masters and National Masters and contain excellent instruction by experienced players for the chess enthusiast.

GM Jesse Kraai shows you the ins and outs of the Fried Liver Attack for beginners all the way up through how advanced players can use this to their advantage. He then goes on to show you how it was employed in 2 high profile games. Jesse says, “The Fried Liver is not just for beginners!”

A Complete System for Black Against the English Opening - Chess Lecture - Volume 65

Catalog Code: DVD0065CL

The English derives its name from the English (unofficial) World Champion, Howard Staunton (1843). The English has caught on in the twentieth century and is now recognized as a solid opening that may be used to reach both classical and hypermodern positions. Although many lines of the English have a distinct character, the opening is often used as a transpositional device in much the same way as 1.Nf3 – to avoid such highly regarded responses to 1.d4 as the Nimzo-Indian and Grunfeld defences – and is considered reliable and flexible.

As noted in the foreward, this book is somewhat mis-titled: It should have been called "Understanding the Chess Openings". It certainly explains the reasons for the moves that it recommends, thereby aiding in understanding. However, some of the variations are out of date, which is not surprising for a reprint of a book decades old. Also, there are a number of openings that it does not cover. Still, overall, this is not a bad introduction to the openings.